Humidifying device



Sept. 2, 1941. s D 2,254,500

HUMIDIFYING DEVICE Originl Filed Jan. 7, 1937 INVENTOR.

iauZ FSezZaZd A TTORNE Y.

Patented Sept. 2, 1941 assists HUMHDHYLYG DEVICE Paul F. Seibold, Newport, Mich.

Application January '2, 1937, Serial No. 119cm Renewed June 29, 1940 2 Claims.

My invention relates to humidifying devices and particularly to a method and means for continuously providing moisture to the air which is being heated by a steam or hot water radiator.

I-Ieretofore, steam or hot water radiators were usually provided with a receptacle into which water was added periodically as it was evaporated. Usually, automatic means was not provided for delivering water to the receptacle which was more often dry than provided with water.

The present invention contemplates the use of a ceramic or other porous element into which the steam or water of the radiator is conducted. Water will accumulate within the element through the condensation of the steam or through the direct delivery thereof and will be absorbed by the ceramic or other material which may become saturated, wetting the outer surfaces of the element. The element is disposed in the convection flow or directed path of the air being heated by the radiator so that, as the air becomes heated and more capable of absorbing moisture, water Will be taken up from the surfaces of the element and will thereby become humidified. The evaporation of the moisture cools the humidifying element and further condensation of the steam in the element, or a further delivery of the water thereto occurs which will continuously be absorbed and evaporated.

The ceramic element is preferably provided with a hollow interior and may be secured to a suitable conductor which is join-ed to the interior of the radiator. A small threaded opening on the end of the radiator is employed to support the element and to deliver fluid thereto. The hollow interior may be formed by placing corrugated, blotting or similar porous material of paper, fibre, clay and the like in the center of the humidifying element. The porous material may be placed in the center of a layer of clay and an additional layer of clay built up thereover and over a conducting element to provide a clay brick-like element having a conductor extending therefrom in connection with the hollow or exceedingly porous interior. The clay or ceramic material is preferably such that, when hardened, the walls will be substantially impervious to the passage of steam, especially when wet. The material should however easily absorb water and should readily become saturated. After drying, the clay is fired and is preferably retained unglazed so as to provide satisfactory absorbing properties.

The resulting humidiiying element may be reinforced with a wire screen and may have an element, impervious to the passage of steam but to form troughs to receive and retain the water at various heights, along thewalls to uniformly;

saturate the entire outer face. V

The element may be supported on one end of the radiator preferably by removing the small plug provided therein and connecting the conductor of the humidifying element [directly thereto.

The humidifying element may be made thin and disposed within the central openings provided in each of the radiator elements. The element may be supported by conductors connected, to the end elements of the bank through the small opening provided therein, Openings may be provided in the elements of the radiators.

themselves and ceramic members employed to cover, and seal such openings and provide moisture absorbing members in the wall thereof. It

is also within the perview of my invention to make the entire radiator element of ceramic material and have all or a portion thereof unglazed to pass moisture.

In any of the various means mentioned or hereinafter specifically set forth or which will be apparent to any one skilled in the art, the

invention embodies the provision of a humidifying element so disposed as to have one face subjected to the hot water, steam or other fluid circulated through the radiator while the other side is disposed in the path of flow of air being heated by the radiator.

The humidifier is made of ceramic material, such as clay, which is molded to have a hollow or moisture collecting interior. A hollow porous element, such as a blotting pad, corrugated pa- :per or like absorbing element may be disposed within the ceramic material, to form the moisture collecting center in communication with a conductor extending adjacent thereto. An additional layer of clay may then be pressed upon the layer containing the porous central portion and completely sealed at the adjoining edges. The element then may be removed from the mold, dried and baked preferably without glazing. In place of the absorbing element, a pair of similar recessed elements may be disposed face to face and secured together along. the

Plaster of Paris and cemarginal edge to provide a hollow interior into which a conductor extends. Suitable reinforcing means may be provided'between the spaced walls when large elements are formed. A fluid may be forced through the conductor when the elements are sealed together to retain the walls of the element in spaced relation until hardened. r

Accordingly, the main objects of my invention' are: to provide a method and means for automatically and continuously humidifying air heated by a steam or hot Water radiator; to support a humidifying device on a radiator by means of a pipe which conducts steam or hot water therewhich requires no attention, which is positive in operation, and economical ofmanufacture.

Otherobjects and features of, novelty of my invention will be specifically pointed out, or will become apparent when referring, for a better understanding of my-invention, to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 isa perspective view of a radiator having a humidifier secured thereto embodying features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation, partly in section ofthe humidifying device'illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is asecticnal view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 2, taken on the line 3-3 thereof.

In Fig. 1, I have illustrated a radiator 20 having the small plug provided at the upper edge removed and a conductor 2! screwed therein. The conductor is joined by a union 22 to a humidifier 23 which is preferably made of ceramic material suchas clay or the like which will absorb moisture. The element 23 is illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 as being constructed from clay and molded to have a hollow interior 24 in communication with a conductor 25. A reinforcing or like element 30 may be embedded in the walls of the ceramic material to provide strength thereto when moistened after being baked. The conductor 25 may be attached to a head I 8 before being molded directly into the clay andbaked therewith to form a support for the entire humidifying element. The clay may be molded in two sections, one or both having an indented central portion to receive porous paper 26 or the like or when made stiff or reinforced, the clay may be joined together to form a hollow interior without the porous element provided therein. The humidifier thus formed will receive the water of the radiator either directly or by condensation of steam which will pass through the conductor 2|. The water will soak through the material of the element 23 and provide moist outer faces disposed in the path of the air heated by the steam or water in the radiator. In this manner a humidifier for steam and hot water radiators is provided which is entirely automatic. This is a material improvement over the use of containers or similar devices which required daily attention to retain water therein. 7

While I have described and illustrated several embodiments of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes, omissions, and substitutions may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth in the accompanying claims. a

What is claimed is:

'1. A humidifier to be conductively joined to a steam or hot water radiator embodying a condu-ctor, a moisture absorbing element molded about said conductor, a porous core about which said ceramic element is molded forming a moistur'e collecting interior in communication with said conductor, and means for connecting said conductor to an opening provided in the radiator.

2; A humidifier for a radiator having a threaded opening in the wall thereof, including, in cornbination, a conductor, a porous core, moisture absorbing material molded about said conductor and core providing a sealed moisture collecting interior communicating with said conductor,

and means for attaching said conductor to said opening for supporting said material with its interior in communication with the interior of said radiator.

. PAUL F. SEIBOLD. 

